Adapter for electrical fixtures



' Dec. 30, 1924. 1,521,130

E. O. SCHWEITZER ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICALFIXTURES Filed Sept, 9, 1920 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1l,521,il3 E. o. SCHWEiTZER ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURES Dec, 30, 1924.

4. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1920 Dec. 30} 1924. 1,521,113@

E. o. SCHWEITZER ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURES Filed Sept, 9, 1920 -4 Sheets-Sheet? llllllll Illl ||ll Dec. 30. 1924.

' 1,521,136] E. o. SCHWEITZER ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURES Filed Sept. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

STATE ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURES.

. Application filed September-9, 1920. Serial No. 409,195.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDMUND O. Sonwnrr- ZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adapters for Electrical Fixtures, of which'the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to adapters for electrical fixtures. The present invention is a development of the inventive conceptions disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 294,721, filed May 5th, 1919, and Serial No. 340,238, filed November 24, 1919.

The present form of adapter has been particularly devised to enable a number of electrical devices to be electrically connected to a singleservice outlet. For example, it is frequently desirable to operate a number of lamps, or both a lamp and a toaster, a lamp and a sewing machine motor, or such units in a room where only a single outlet isconvenient to both units, The general practice heretofore in such circumstances has been to employ a. multiple socket connecting member in the form of a plug having a plurality of sockets mounted in the plug, this socket member being commonly known as a Benjamin cluster. This type of connector is generally unsuitable for use in the lighting fixtures of a residence, etc., owing particularlyto the inability to adapt the connector to the various lighting schemes desired, and also owing to the inartistic appearance of the connector. direct lighting effect is desired, with each bulb arranged vertically for uniform distribution of the light, this type of connector is entirely incapable of adaptation to these requirements; or where an indirect lighting effect is desired in combination with an indirect shade or reflector it is similarly incapable of adaptation to these requirements.

Furthermore, this type of connector is devoid of any artistic/configuration, and cannot be harmoniously employed with the ,ornamental fixtures of a residence, etc.

The present form of adapter has been de vised to provide a converting unit by which any direct lighting fixture may be readily converted intoan indirect lighting fixture by the mere screwing of the unit into the direct lighting fixture socket. The adapter is That is to say, where a constructed to readily accommodate any shade or reflector which may have been previously used for direct lighting effects, so that in making such a conversion all that it is necessary to do is to insert the adapter in the fixture socket and mount the direct lighting shade or reflector on the adapter in inverted relation, whereby an indirect lighting eflect is secured without requiring any new or different style of shade or reflector. 'Any other preferred shade or reflector may, of course, be substituted for the original shade or-reflector. For example, I contemplate employing with my improved adapter a particular combination of two shades or reflectors for first diffusing the light and then softening it, this being secured through the cooperative relation of the two shades.

In accordance with the above aim, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of adapter for connecting a light and an attachment circuit to a single outlet socket, which adapter will permit the light to assume the proper angle with respect to the electrical fixture, and will also permit of the various adaptations in direct or indirect lighting schemes.

A secondary object is to devise a form of adapter which will be of simple and attractive design for use with all classes of lighting fixtures, particularly where it is essential that the artistic or.aesthetic aspect of the fixture be unimpaired. E

A further object is to provide a construction of multiple socket for the present adapter in which the socket contacts are arranged to perform a switching function for one of the sockets, this switching function being arranged for control by a conventional form of a plug member in the cooperating socket,

Another object is "to provide a construction of adapter built up largely of standard plug and socket members, whereby the adapter may be cheaply and manufactured.

Further objects incident in the particular construction and arrangement of the contacts and other parts of the structure will be hereinafter apparent in the specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

conveniently Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is' a side elevational view with parts .in section, illustrating an indirect 8 sockets on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view, with parts f in section, of a slightly modified construction of adapter;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of another modified construction of adapter;

Figure 8 is an elevational view, with parts in section, of still another modified form of adapter;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view. taken'approximately on the plane of a'line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figures 10 and 11 are side and front elevational views respectively of a hinge type of depending arm adaptable to either of the above constructions; v

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of an extensible type of depending arm, also adaptable to either of the above constructions.

Figure 13 is a reduced elevational view illustrating the combined grouping of a re-' fiector and-shade on the adapter for the purght.

The form of adapter illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plug member 12 which is adapted to be, screwed into the outlet socket 13 of a conventional form of lighting fixture. I have shown the standard Edison type of plug and socket, as being the preferred form because of certain advantages which can be secured by thejsame. Pivotally supported on the bottom of the plug 12 and depending therefrom is a tubuar supporting arm 14 of cnrvedgoose-neck pose of producing a soft, dlfi'used, indirect formation. The tubular arm 14 carries at 1ts lower end the combined light and attachment sockets 15 nd 16, the lattersocketforming a termina connection for the appliance circuit. These sockets comprise two concentric portions, namely, the outer shell or ring and a central stud or plate as is well understood 'by those skilled in the art. This tubular arm preferably consists of a section of brass tubing which is flattened in the curved portion intermediate the plug 12 and sockets 15-16 so as to present a minimum thickness of tube to the rays from the light 17 'and thereby reduce the extent of shadow cast by the tubular arm: As shown in Fig-,

ure 3, the horizontal pivotal ortion 18 of the tube is formed cylindrica and is provided with two collars 19 and 20. I conplug 12, modifying this construction of plug only to a slight degree in adapting it to the ,present construction.- The under face of the plug member 12 is grooved transversely as indicated at 22 to accommodate the cylindrical portion 18 of the tubular arm, the two'collars 19 and 20 embracing. the sides of the ,body portion of the plug. The cylindrical portion 18 is held in the semi-circular groove 22 by a circular plate 23 which 'is formed with a semi-circular depression-24 extending transversely across the same and embracing the lower half of the c lindrical portion 18 of the tubular arm. rews 25 extend up through holes in the plate 23 and thread into tapped holesin-the insulating body portion of the plug 12. The upper half of the cylindrical portion 18 is slotted longitudinally tojpermit the insertion into the tubular arm of the Wires 26 and 27 which extend down from the terminals in the body portiontof the plug.\ Each of on the cooperating cap of the plug in the ordinary usage thereofand the conducting wires 26 and 27 are connected to these terminals in any suitable manner., The articular construction'of this type of p ug is well known in the art. It will be noted that the ends of the longitudinal slot in the cylindrical portion 18, where the wires 26 and 27 enter the same are cut down to either side so as to permit a large degree of angular movement of the arm 14: without pinch inglthe wires; I

eferring now to the construction of the combined sockets 15 and 16 at the lower end of the depending arm 14, it will be observed from Figure 4 that these sockets comprise an .upper shell 27 and a lower shell 28 in co-extensive aligned relation. shells 2728 are expanded outwardly at their adjoining edges, as indicated at 29,

Both

and these expanded edges are'joined by an encircling band 31 which is brazed to the shells 27 and 28. The lower end of the depending arm 14' is similarly brazed to the upper shell 27, this shell having an aper-,

ture coincident with the end of thetubulan arm to permitthe entrance of the conduct;

ing wires 26-27 into the shell. The two outer shells 27 and 28 are provided with insulating liners or sleeves 32 and 33, and inside these insulating sleeves are mounted thetwo threaded shells 3 1 and 35 which are adapted to receive the'plug ends on the light and the attachment circuit respectively. The adjoining edges of the two shells 34 and 35.,are lapped oneiover' the other and are soldered together so as to place; the two shellsin multiple electrical connection. One of the wires entering the socket from the tubular arm 14 is extended A 33 is a beaded conducting ring 36, to which the other of the conducting wires entering the socket is connected. This conducting ring has soldered thereto two radially extending spring contacts 37 and 38. These spring contacts enter the sockets at diametrically opposite points on about the same level, and at these points the threaded shells 34 and 35 are slotted or cut away so as to avoid contact with the contact members. The end of the spring contact 37 is bowed .upwardly to engage with the tip contact of the light. The spring contact 38 is bowed downwardly to engage with the tip terminal of the attachment plug, and the end of this spring contact is bent upwardly as indicated at 39 so as to form a raising extension-for engaging the upper contact spring 37 and raising it into contact wiilh the cooperating tipterminal of the lig t. positioned in the double socket that normally the upper contact 37 will be out of engagement with the tip of the light, when the latter is screwed down as far as it will go. The light is included in circuit by screwing up the upper portion of the attachment plug 41 into the attachment socket 16. The tip terminal of this attachment plug engages its respective. spring contact 38 and thrusts the latter upwardly during the continued threading motion of the plug, whereby the raising extension 39 on the contact engages the upper spring contact 37 and raises the same into contact with the tip terminal of the light. The attachment plug thus performs the switching function for the light socket in an exceedingly simple and effective manner. I do not intend to limit the invention to employment of this switching operation as it is a function which I dispense with in certain forms by making the contact for the lamp base engage the tip contact of the lamp independently of the plug. The attachment plug 41 is preferably a two-part pull plug consisting of the upper threaded portion and the lower pull portion having pron-g terminals adapted to be inserted into socket terminals in the body of the threaded portion of the plug. The upper threaded portion of the plug can thus be retained in the socket 16 at all times to conveniently serve as the switching medium for the light socket 15.

The practical use of this form of adapter is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1,- I have illustrated the adapter as supported in the socket of a.depending chain fixture. In this figure I have also illustrated the device as arranged for an indirect light- The two contacts 37 and 38 are so ing efiect. The shade or reflector 44 is supported upon the combined sockets 15-16 by a conventional form of clamp 45. The reflector unit 44 may be the direct lighting shade or reflector which was originally in use on the socket of the chain fixture- -being simply inverted on the adapter to afford an indirect reflection-or it may be any special form of reflector. The clamp 45 is of conventional pattern, being capable of mounting on the standard socket 16 and receiving any standard size of shade or reflector. In Figure 13 I have illustrated an outer shade 47 mounted outside of the reflector 44, this outer shade being preferably composed of silk, parchment or other translucent material now in vogue. The combined shade and reflector perform a very desirable function in the indirect lighting scheme, the reflector 44 diffusing the lateral and downward rays, and the shade 47 softening these rays so that the resulting light is of a soft pleasing character. The shade 47 may be mounted by providing the wire frame thereof with members engaging over the upper edgeof the reflector 44.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the li ht 17 is aligned coincident with the axis 0% the fixture socket 13 whereby the original grouping of the lights for the most effective light distribution is not afiected. The attachment circuit, which is represented by the cord 46 leading from the attachment plug, may be extended to an electric toaster, a coffee percolator, a sewing machine motor, or any other electrical attachment. It will, of course, be obvious that a light might be substituted for the attachment plug 41 in circumstances where more light might be desired, and it is to be understood that in the appended claims the reference to light socket and attachment socket is solely for the convenience of reference. Figure 2 shows the adapter supported in an inclined fixture socket, and illustrates the particular utility of the pivotal connection of the tubular supporting arm 14. In this figure the shade has been removed to -obtain a direct lighting e'ifect, although such removal is not necessary. In each case, the adapter may be used with or without the shade.

The modified construction illustrated in Figure 6 employs a rigid plug 48 which is fixedly secured to the upper end of the tubular depending arm 14*. The plug 48 is preferably of standard'construction and is supported in a cylindrical metallic shell 49 to whichthe upper end of the goose-neck arm 14* is brazed. The conducting wires in the arm 14* are connected to the terminals of the plug 48 in an obvious manner and I shall not therefore describe the detailed construction of the plug. The twoco-extensive sockets 15 and 16 at the lower end of the supportingarm 14 are, for the greater porof insulation, through which extend bolts 56' connecting the members 53, 54 and 55 to gether. 'The threaded shells 51 and 52 have inwardly turned flanges or bottom portions through which the bolts 56 extend, and the 7 preferably at the screw 61.

engagement of theheads of these bolts and the nuts '56 thereof with these flanges or base portions electrically connects the two shells together. The two fiber discs 53 and 54 have central openings 57--57the base portions of the threaded shells 51 and 52 having similar openings matching therewith-and lying in these openings is a central movable contact 58. As shown in Figure 9, this central contact 58 is carried by a" flat spiral spring 59, the outer endfot this ,spiral spring 'being secured to the lower fiber disc 54 by a screw 61." One of the connecting wiresentering the socket has connection with the shells 51 and '52 in the usual manner, and the other conducting wire has connection I with the spiral spring 59, The spiral spring 59 normallyretains the central contact 58 in a lowered position as indicated in Figure 6, whereby the light 17 is normally out of circuit. As described in connection with the previous embodiment, by screwing the attachment plug up into the lower socket 16 the central contact 58 is raised upwardly into the upper socket 15 and thus makes contact with the tip terminal of the light 17, althou h this may also be modified.

Ass own in Figures 1 to 6, and 8 to 9, the central contact which serves the funct on of a switch for cutting out the lamp 17 hes nearer to the outer end of the lower socket shell than it does to the upper, so that contact will firstbe made by the plug, such as the plug 41 shown in Figure 4, and if this plug is then further threaded into the socket, the central contact will engage the central contact of the lamp. 17.

As shown in Fig. 4 the arm 38, 39 has been forced inwardly by the plug 41 to an intermediate position.

- In Figure 7 I have illustrated a modified arrangement of adapter which. is devised to support the light 17 in inverted position.

.\ This construction comprises a combined 60 tubular arm 14'. This fitting '6263 is plug 62 and socket 63 of standard coIistruction, to which is secured the depending preferably of the type having a laterally extending socket opening into the side of the fitting tor current-tap connection, and in adapting this fitting to the present construcupwardly extending lugs 74 at diametrically.

tion the goose-neck arm 14 is simply secured over the lateral opening provided in the outer shell for the lateral socket. The insulating block in this construction of .fitting is provided with two current tap connec-' tions, one of which'is indicated in dotted lines at 64, and to these current tap connections are secured the ends of the wires leading down through the tubular arm 14'.-

.Thelower end of the tubular arm v14' is be made to very conveniently support a direct lighting shade or reflector lying out- -side of the arm 14'.

The bottom parts 41 and 66 of the separable connector plugs may be provided with prongs which may be turned toadapt them for parallel or aligned slots. Such fittings are now sold under the trade names of Paraline and Adaptacap.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated another modified form of adapter having a pivotal support for the depending arm 14"and a pull-chain type of socket for the light17. The plug 71 for screwing into theservice outlet is secured to a spherical shell 72 which has pivotal connection with a semi-spherical shell 73 on the upper end of the tubular arm The lower shell 73 is provided with opposite points through whiclrextendpivot screws 75 which thread into the upper shell 72. The lower portion of the upper shell 72 extends down into the shell 73 a slight distance so as to maintain the shells closed in the various angular positions of the plug 71. A spur 76 is preferably struck out of the body of the gage the upper e ge of the. lower shell 73 and limit the angular motion of the shells in one direction. The tubular arm 14"- is formed co-extensive with arr opening in the bottom of the lower shell 73, being secured to the shell in any suitable manner, and the wires 26 and .27 extend down from their.

terminals in the plug 71 and enter the tubular arm 14?. The lower end of the tubular arm carries a pull-chainsocket 77 of conventional construction having the customary pull-chain-78 for controlling a rotary switch in the socket. The lower end of the socket 77 extends into'a sleeve 79, to which it is secured by the provision of short spurs struck out from the wall of the socket and engaging in, depressions in the inner.

upper shell'72 so as to enwall of the sleeve 79, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The lower portion of the sleeve 79 is extended outwardly to accommodate an inner sleeve of insulation 81, and fitting within this insulating sleeve is the socket member 82 of a conventional form of two-part pull plug, such as shown at 65 in Figure 7 This plug member is retained in the sleeve 79 by an inwardly spun flange 83 on the lower end. of the sleeve. The co-operating cap portion 84 of this plug is provided with two contact prongs 85 which are adapted to be inserted into suitable sockets in the insulating body of the plug member 82. These socket terminals have suitable parallel connection with the I terminals'of the pull-chain socket 77. At 86 I have illustrated one of the terminal clips which connect with these socket terminals and which are in turn connected with the terminals of the socket'77 through wires 87. An outer flange or extension 88 projects upwardly from the sleeve 79 and is formed with an outwardly curved lip within which rests the lower edge of an indirect reflector or shade 89. A circular detent spring 90 is confined in slotted openings in the upper edge of the flange 88 and supports the reflector 89 by engaging over the bead 91 on the lower edge thereof. This reflector may also be provided with an outer shade as illustrated in Figure 13.

. In Figures 10 and 11-, I have illustrated a hinged construction of depending arm, which may be embodied in either of the preceding structures. This hin ed construction is arranged by dividing t e depending arm at an intermediate point into upper and lower tubular sections 92 and 93. The end of the upper section 92 is bifurcated and has its two ,fork arms spread outwardly as indicated at 94 to embrace the end of the lower section 93. The end of the lower section is preferably slotted as indicated at 95 to lend resiliency to the hinge joint. A hinge pin 96 is passed through aligned apertures 'in the, slotted ends of the two sections, and a knurled clamping nut 97 is threaded over the end of the hinge pin to impose sufficient tension on the hinge joint to retain it in any of its various angular positions. The conducting wires 26 and 27 are extended around the hinge pin 96 in passing from one section of the tubular arm to the other. The particular utility of this hinge joint in the depending arm resides in the ability to adjust the position of the double socket 15-16 to any desired angle, whereby the adapter may be inserted in an inclined socket as indicated in Figure 2 and the light in the socket maintained in vertical position, or whereby the light may be variously inclined for diiferent and more effective lighting schemes.

In Figure 12 I have illustrated an extensible construction of depending arm which sections 98 and 99 the two sections may be separated or drawn together, thereby affording an extensible adjustment in the depending arm. Lock nuts may be provided on the threaded arm sections 98 and 99 to engage with the ends of the adjusting sleeve 100 and clamp the same in any adjusted position. The conducting wires are passed through the sleeve 100, and are arranged with a certain amount of slack to permit the extensible adjustment. This extensible adjustment enables the double socket 15--16v to be drawn to or separated from the plug end of the adapter and thus permits of the convenient use of large or small lights. in the double socket. It, moreover, permits of yarious adjustments incident in adapting shades and reflectors to the device.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described.

I claim:

.1. In an adapter, the combination of a standard plug, a first standard socket, a second standard socket, supporting means depending from said plug and extending downwardly for the support of one of sa1d sockets, said supporting means consisting of a .single rod lying wholly at one side of the plug and the sockets, said sockets being adapted to provide outlets for a plurallty of electrical devices and being arranged substantially in axial alignment with said plug.

2. In -an adapter of the class described, the combination of a plug adapted for connection in a standard outlet socket, a tubular arm pivotally connected to said plug and depending therefrom, an attachment socket carried on the end of said tubular arm, sa1d socket facing downwardly, a light socket supported by said tubular arm and facing upwardly, and an electrical conductor extending through said tubular arm and electrically connecting said plug with both of said sockets.

3. In combination, a plug adapted for 1nsertion in an outlet socket, a supportlng member having connection with said plug and extending substantially below the same, a pair of sockets carried on the end of sa1d supporting member, and a shlftable contact in one of said sockets adapted to be moved into operative position by a plug in the cooperating socket.

4. In an adapter, the combination of a plug having terminals therein, a tubular armpivotally bearing in a groove in said 'plug, means for pivotally retaining said tubular arm in said groove, a conductin wire having connection with one of sai plugterminals and extending into said tuular arm, a pair of sockets supported on the end of said tubular arm, said sockets comprising socket contacts connected in parallel, said conducting wire being connected to one of said contacts. 1

5. In combination, a plug adapted for in-' sertion in an outlet socket, a depending arm of relatively small .diameter with respect to the diameter of the plug, .a pair of sockets carried on the lower end of said arm and connected in parallel to said plug, and a pivotal connection between said arm and said plug to permit relative angular motion therebetween', the axis of the pivotal connection lying substantially at right angles to the axis of the plug. T

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plug member adapted for engagement in an outlet socket, a tubular depending arm having connection with said plug member and extending substantially below the same, a double socket member carried on the end of said tubular arm, a conducting wire. extending from said plug member to said double socket member through said tubular arm, and a hinge joint member carried by said sup-porting member,

and an indirect shade or reflector open at its top supported on said socket member and adapted to shield a lamp in said socket member from direct vision.

8. In an adapter for converting a direct lighting fixture into an indirect lighting fixture, the combination of an Edison screw plug member adapted for insertion into the socket of the direct lighting fixture, a depending arm extending downwardly from said plug member, a socket member carried on the'end of said depending arm for receiving the light, and"means supported on said socket member for receiving an indirect shade or reflector substantially closed at the bottom and open at the top for shielding a lamp in said socket from direct vision.

9. In an adapter for converting a direct lighting fixture into an indirect lighting fixture, the combination of a plug member adapted for insertion into the outlet socket of the direct lighting fixture, a tubular arm of relatively small diameter depending from said plug member, a socket member carried by said tubular armand having electrical 7 connections with said plug member through an electrical conductor extending through said tubulararm, clamping means on said socket member, and an indirect shade or reflector open at its top, supported by said clamping means said arm lying inside of the shade. 1

10. In an adapter for converting a direct lighting fixture into an indirect lighting fixture, the combination of a plug member adapted for insertion into the socket of the direct lighting fixture, a tubular arm extending substantially downwardly from said plug member, a double socket member car ried on the end of said tubular arm, said double socket member comprising a light socket and an attachment socket, both of said sockets having electrical connection with said plug member, through an electrical conductor extending through said tubular arm, and clamping means. aarried by said double socket member adaptedto support an open topped indirect shade or reflector about said double socket member to shield a lamp mounted on said indirect reflector.

, 12. In an adapter for converting a direct lighting fixture into an indirect lighting fixture, the combination of a plu member adapted for insertion .into the 063st socket of the direct lighting fixture, a depending arm extending downwardly from said plug member, a socket member carried by said dependin arm and adapted to receive the light, an lndirect reflector supported on and 1n proximity to said socket member for shielding said light from direct vision, and an outer shade encircling said indirect reflector and cooperating therewith in distributing and diifnsing the light rays.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of sockets facing in opposite directionsand axially in line with each other, a plug axially-in line with the sockets and located above the same, a rigid arm connecting thepl'ug with the said sockets, said sockets comprising a pair of shell members and a common central contact member, said plug comprising a shell member and a central contact member, said central contact members and said shell members being connected together electrically. I

14'. In a device of the class described, a standard -Edison plug for insertion in a standard direct lighting Edison socket, a

standard Edison socket in substantial alignment with the plug and opening upward and adapted to support a standard illuminating lamp below the plug, a relatively small diameter tubular arm between the plug and said socket, said arm being bent to clear the lamp, and a bowl-shaped shade flaring upwardly supported on said socket and surrounding said arm and adapted to shield the lamp from direct vision;

15. In an adapter, in combination with a standard light socket, supporting means adapted for attachment to said socket, a second socket on said supporting means spaced from and opening back toward said first socket, and a shade mounted on said second socket with its large end opening toward said first socket and having its small end substantially closed.

16. In an adapter, in combination with a standard light socket, supporting means adapted for attachment to said socket, a

second socket on said supporting means spaced from and opening back toward said first socket, and a third socket positioned back-to-back with said first socket, said supporting means including a pivotal connection permitting movement of said second socket about an axis perpendicular to the ing part of said supporting means and per-- mitting movement of said second socket about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the first socket. I

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of September, 1920.

EDMUND O. SCHWEITZER. 

